Team Orlando's New Coach Dives Right In Nationally Known Diving Coach And Former Stunt Double Jay Lerew Enjoys A Challenge.

October 20, 1996|By Bill Buchalter of The Sentinel Staff

Jay Lerew has taken a shot at James Bond, ridden enduro bikes through the Rocky Mountains, and served as a ski stunt double for Don Johnson, who some may know as Nash Bridges or remember from the television series, Miami Vice.

In the Bond movie The Spy Who Loves Me, Lerew plays a Russian skiier chasing Agent 007 down the slopes. He has traveled the world, playing in acrobatic ski shows.

Orlando is his latest challenge, moving to Central Florida after seven years at Moss Farms in Moultrie, Ga., where he built that program into one of the most respected in the United States.

It's not an easy task to follow Chinese Olympian KZ Li, who led Team Orlando to a national team title last summer. But Li had the arduous task of succeeding Jeff Shaffer, and the program continued to grow in size and stature.

Lerew fully expects to build on that success.

Professionally, he was a three-time NCAA All-American at the University of Oregon, holds a teaching certificate and coached diving at Colorado State University.

Despite traveling the world and working at the elite level of diving, Lerew prefers a hands-on approach to all levels of competitive diving.

''My goal is to work with every age, from the senior level to the 5-year old,'' Lerew said. ''I always make sure to keep my hands on the pulse at the bottom. I do a lot of handspotting and other innovative ways working with young kids.''

Lerew arrives at the YMCA Aquatic Center at a time of unprecedented growth for Team Orlando Diving.

Spokesperson Bernie Bricker said the numbers have reached 170 divers in the aftermath of last summer's Olympic Games and the pool presence of Olympic diver Patrick Jeffery.

''We're bursting at the seams,'' Lerew said. ''We have a waiting list, and we're trying to start new programs. This is unheard of in diving. The potential is unlimited.

''Fortunately for me, the coach who has been here since the beginning (1996 USA Diving age-group coach of the year Lynn McCoy) is known as the best startup coach in the country,'' Lerew said. ''Nobody does it better. That was a main reason why I decided to come here. When she graduates them to me, they're ready to go. Most programs don't have that. That's why I'm real excited.''

Lerew is in the process of purchasing a house, and is looking in the Dr. Phillips area. He and his wife, Karen, have three daughters - Chelsie, 14, Brittany, 11, and Shelby, 1 1/2 . Chelsie and Brittany are nationally-ranked divers in their respective age groups.

The Aquatic Center facility was another selling point for Lerew.

''We've got more diving boards than at Moss Farms,'' he said, ''and the main benefit is having that building over the boards. On those cold days in Georgia, serious training was tough on those kids because it was an outdoor facility. The indoor facility is a real plus. I think this is the best facility in Florida. And everybody knows how fast the pool is.''

Lerew expects eight to 10 elite divers, who trained with him at Moss Farms, to follow him to the YMCA Aquatic Center this summer. He wants to take the next couple of months to get to know the kids in the program.

''There's a lot of skilled kids here that I need to jump on and give them the hook to keep getting better,'' Lerew said. ''We also have a lot of novice kids to take care of. Mark (Olympic Trials finalist and Dr. Phillips junior Ruiz) will be going international at the senior level and we have a couple of others who will do the same at the junior level.

''I do a lot of extensive dry-land work which will be different than they have seen. I want to get them used to me and used to the changes. Then I want to get busy knowing the community, knowing the businesses and get involved with them and them with us.''

Lerew came on board Oct. 1 and likes the challenge.

But then accepting challenges is his forte.

He pursued his stuntman career for the longest time.

''I wanted it badly, but work was too far between. It's tough to break into the business,'' he said.

Bricker said the Team Orlando Diving parents' committee was bowled over by Lerew's enthusiasm.

''He's of the best age-group coaches in the world and filled with enthusiasm,'' Bricker said. ''We have grown, and many of our new divers are former gymnasts who are acrobatic and talented. I believe with his enthusiasm, we could grow to as many as 300 divers and truly become a diving dynasty.''